A pair of Sporting Legends joined Sports Radio 810 WHB on Friday to preview the start of the 2018 MLS regular season and look ahead to Sporting Kansas City's highly anticipated season opener against New York City FC on Sunday night at Children's Mercy Park.
In a candid conversation with host Soren Petro on The Program, Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes discussed the process of acquiring and assimilating new players such as Yohan Croizet, Felipe Gutierrez and Johnny Russell. The longest-tenured MLS head coach also believes the club's transfer movement is 90-percent complete, noting that "We've been working on another No. 9," but staying patient remains a crucial part of adding another newcomer.
Regardless of whether Sporting KC makes another signing in the coming weeks, Vermes is as confident as ever that his team can contend at the top of MLS in 2018.
"We probably have the most talent that we've ever had on our roster," Vermes said. "The question is how that all comes together. This takes us outside a strong starting XI and into 15 or 18 really strong, high-quality players."
Vermes' former teammate in Kansas City, former U.S. Men's National Team goalkeeper and Tony Meola, chatted with The Border Patrol hosts Nate Bukaty and Steven St. John earlier on Friday, reminiscing on his playing days as a member of the Wizards before launching into Sunday's marquee matchup between Sporting KC and NYCFC and the rapid improvement of Major League Soccer in attracting world-class players from around the world. Meola will serve as the FS1 color commentator for the nationally televised clash on FS1 alongside play-by-play man J.P. Dellacamera.
"I think this (Sporting KC) team will have a better balance than they had last year." Meola said. "If you told me at the end of the year that Kansas City won the Western Conference, I wouldn't be surprised. I definitely see them as a playoff team, and I think they've got a group that's ready to go deep."
Listen to the entirety of both podcasts below. Tickets for Sunday's match are available at SeatGeek.com, and the first 15,000 fans through the stadium gates will receive a free schedule magnet courtesy of match sponsor Children's Mercy.
Friday: Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes on The Program
Friday: FS1 Color Commentator Tony Meola on The Border Patrol
